Networking News (114)

A great deal of the information we consume and produce every day goes over wireless networks, especially Wi-Fi, which makes securing these transmissions of constant importance. To that end, the Wi-Fi Alliance has announced some of the new capabilities that will emerge this year as part of WPA3.

While WPA2 has been widely successful, is still being developed, and will continue to be deployed in future devices, WPA3 is going to bring new protections and features. Among these are means to ensure security for simple passwords and making it easier for devices with small or no display interface to connect. Individualized encryption is another feature that will strengthen privacy even on open networks and we will also see a 192-bit security suite created to protect networks with high security requirements.

Customers in the United Kingdom unknowingly agreed to perform one thousand hours of community service in exchange for using a public WiFi hotspot. The WiFi provider, Purple, decided to sneak the clause into its terms and conditions, knowing that most people would never read it. In what has been described as a, "technically legally binding agreement," users agreed to unclog sewers and scrape gum off the streets. The list of duties also included cleaning up animal litter, cleaning portable bathrooms, painting snail shells to brighten their existence, and hugging stray cats and dogs.

Purple reportedly performed the hoax in order to show that users may be agreeing to things they would not like in those pesky terms and conditions. Examples could be granting access to private information, or providing data of your web browsing habits. In addition to the hoax, the WiFi provider also included a clause stating that you would be given a prize if you actually read the terms and conditions. It appears as though only one person actually claimed this prize.

Tenda Technology, a subsidiary of Shenzhen Tenda, has officially announced a slim and low-profile 300Mbps Wi-Fi router known as the F3. The latest product offering from Tenda comes with a high-end Broadcom networking chip as well as three external high-gain omni-directional antennas, which combined allow users to experience excellent Wi-Fi range and speed. The Tenda F3, which is able to utilize IP-based control settings to effectively manage bandwidth, also makes use of an excellent user interface that is usable for both novices as well as tech-savvy individuals.

The Tenda F3 boasts a quick 30 second setup time and is able to be purchased from Amazon for just $24.99.

TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, has officially launched its own line of 10 Gigabit fiber and switch solutions, which support all types of business network applications. Three new fiber SFP+ modules make up the new 10 Gigabit category by TRENDnet, and while they are available for immediate purchase, the company’s two 10 Gigabit web smart switches that round out the 10GE product family will not be available to be bought until late spring 2016. Model TEG-10GBS40 successfully spans distances up to 24.9 miles and supports up to 10.3Gbps networking throughput speeds, while model TEG-10GBS10 spans distances up to 6.2 miles and supports up to 10.5Gbps networking throughout speeds. Additionally, model TEG-10GBSR spans distances up to 1,804 feet and supports up to 10.5Gbps networking throughput speeds. Sonny Su, the Technology Director at TRENDnet, noted that "As 10 Gigabit technology becomes more established, cost effective solutions, such as TRENDnet's new 10 Gigabit fiber and switch solutions, become available to help businesses manage their networks by providing additional bandwidth and improved performance."

The TEG-10GBS40, TEG-10GBS10, and TEG-10GBSR can be purchased from major retailers and other authorized TRENDnet partners, and feature an MSRP of $1,499.99, $259.99, and $144.99, respectively.

TRENDnet, a leading global networking hardware brand that has been building network solutions since 1990, has officially announced worldwide availability of its AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender, model TEW-822DRE. The latest TRENDnet product offering allows consumers to simply plug the device into an electrical outlet to extend their 802.11ac as well as their 802.11n wireless networks. Evan Davis, the Senior Manager of Solutions Engineering at TRENDnet, noted that "TRENDnet's AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender, paired with an 802.11ac client, assists to improve the range of the less congested 5 GHz band by providing nearly whole-home Wireless AC coverage." High performance wireless amplifiers and external antennas make up the AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender from TRENDnet, and the device also features an Ethernet port so that wired connections can be extended as well.

Consumers are able to purchase the TRENDnet AC1200 Wi-Fi Range Extender, model TEW-822DRE, from major retailers and other authorized TRENDnet partners for an MSRP of $84.99.

ASUS has announced a new wireless router, the RT-AC5300U, a Tri-Band 802.11ac device with total throughput of 5.3Gb/s. The speed will be divided with 2.167Gb/s on each 5GHz band and 1Gb/s on 2.4GHz, making it "the fastest Tri-band router on the market." The router will provide ample coverage and in all directions with the use of eight external antennas. The RT-AC5300U is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of this year though no pricing information is available at this time.

Google has announced its latest product, the OnHub wireless router, which is designed to be "easy to set up and manage, have high performance, and be able to tie together smart home accessories." The router features a cylindrical design with 13 interior antennas that Google says will "allow it to have better penetration throughout a home." OnHub supports 802.11ac, 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and Weave. Weave is the new smart home language from Google that could see the OnHub put to use as a smart home hub in the future. The device can be accessed through an app on Android or iOS and gives users information on connected devices and speed, further contributing to its ease of use. OnHub is set to go on sale on August 31 at an MSRP of $199.99.

TRENDnet, a company who has been building network solutions since 1990 and is a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, has announced that its metal-enclosed network switches now come with a limited lifetime warranty. This warranty is only applicable to purchases made within the United States of America and Canada, but is retroactive to products purchased as early as January 1, 2015. Sonny Su, the Technology Director at TRENDnet, noted that, "Our switches have earned their reputation for being durable and reliable, and our limited lifetime warranty policy reflects this confidence in our products."

Motherboard manufacturers for years have been utilizing Intel and Killer Ethernet chips on a variety of enthusiast products, mainly due to the lower latency, lower driver overhead, and other advantages that the chips offer. This move by motherboard manufacturers has placed Realtek on the back burner, but the company is hoping that it can regain some of its lost market share with a new onboard LAN solution known as the Realtek Dragon. Making up the latest onboard LAN product from Realtek is the new RTL8118AS, a PCIe gigabit Ethernet PHY that apparently has been refined to offer lower driver overhead for traffic with small UDP packets, something that should improve network performance with multiplayer games. Additionally, the Realtek Dragon boasts lower power consumption when compared with competing solutions, such as the Killer E2200 from Qualcomm.

The new Realtek Dragon will make its debut to the market on various GA1151 motherboards by ECS, which should feature the latest branding for the Ethernet chip.

TRENDnet, a leading global networking hardware brand, has released its AC750 Wireless Travel Router. The latest product from TRENDnet, model TEW-817DTR, provides ultimate connectivity for travelers who require access to IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless networks by turning a wired Internet connection into a wireless network. Zak Wood, the Marketing Director for TRENDnet, noted that "Our TEW-817DTR keeps all devices connected by broadcasting concurrent Wi-Fi AC and Wi-Fi N networks.” The AC750 offers pre-encrypted Wi-Fi, WISP mode, GREENnet technology, and support for PSec, PPTP, and L2TP VPN passthrough. The AC750 Wireless Travel Router also comes with North American, UK, and Euro electrical plug adapters that allow users to enjoy the product while travelling through various regions of the world.

TRENDnet’s AC750 Wireless Travel Router comes with a three-year limited warranty and features an MSRP of $54.99.

TRENDnet, a leading global networking hardware brand, has officially announced the availability of its AC3200 tri-band wireless router, model TEW-828DRU. This latest router is capable of handling a wealth of different Wi-Fi devices in even the busiest of homes, while consistently offering excellent performance. The TEW-828DRU from TRENDnet features three concurrent wireless networks, which include two separate ultra-performance 1,300Mbps Wi-Fi AC networks and a 600Mbps Wi-Fi N network. Additionally, the router offers SmartConnect, which automatically migrates faster AC devices to the highest performing Wi-Fi AC band, and beamforming technology, which directs wireless signals to specific devices to increase overall performance. The TEW-828DRU offers Gigabit wired ports, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 share ports, a 1GHz dual-core processor, and the ability to create isolated guest networks.

TRENDnet’s AC3200 tri-band wireless router comes with a three-year limited warranty and is available to purchase from retailers and other TRENDnet partners for $279.99.

TRENDnet, a leading global networking hardware brand, has officially announced the availability of its Powerline 1200 AV2 Adapter Kit, model TPL-420E2K. This latest powerline adapter kit from TRENDnet creates a network by utilizing an existing electrical system, allowing homeowners to easily and quickly expand their home network. The Powerline 1200 offers a Gigabit port and is capable of providing a high-performance network in homes up to 5,000 square feet. TRENDnet has included a power savings mode with the Powerline 1200, reducing electricity consumption by up to 80 percent when idle, and has also ensured that the device is compatible with Powerline 600, 500, and 200 solutions.

The Powerline 1200 Adapter Kit includes two TPL-420E adapters, comes with a 3-year limited warranty, and features an MSRP of $129.99.

TRENDnet has announced the availability of the N300, its latest outdoor access point, as well as two antenna kits that pair with the device. The N300, model TEW-739APBO, includes support for access point, wireless distribution system, repeater, and CPE + AP modes, and features an IP67 rated aluminum housing. According to the TRENDnet Marketing Director, Zak Wood, the N300 is able to withstand extreme weather conditions while providing blanket wireless for a variety of outdoor and indoor applications. The latest outdoor access point from TRENDnet does requires antennas that are sold separately, which is why the company has also released the 4/6 dBi Surge Outdoor Dual Band Omni Antenna Kit, model TEW-AO46S, and the 5/7 dBi Outdoor Dual Band Omni Antenna Kit, model TEW-AO57. Both antenna kits enable the N300 to provide broad coverage, and are also compatible with 802.11ac/n/g/b/a routers and access points with N-Type female connectors.

The N300 carries an MSRP of $299.99 while the 4/6 dBi Surge Outdoor Dual Band Omni Antenna Kit and 5/7 dBi Outdoor Dual Band Omni Antenna Kit carry an MSRP of $84.99 and $44.99, respectively.

Quantenna Communications has announced that sometime next year it plans to launch a new Wi-Fi chipset that will provide throughput of 10Gbps. This is possible due to a new 8x8 MIMO chipset that the company is working on, which will work with older Wi-Fi standards such as 802.11 a/b/g and n. Some of the newest routers that are currently on the market feature 3x3 MIMO chipsets, such as the Linksys WRT-1900AC that delivers 1.3Gbps, while newer 802.11ac routers that have been announced feature a 4x4 MIMO chipset, such as the ASUS RT-AC87U that delivers 1.7Gbps. The new chipset by Quantenna will bond multiple channels found on the 5GHz frequency band to provide a single channel that is 160MHz wide; current 802.11ac routers are able to achieve an 80MHz wide channel by using the same technology.

Quantenna has revealed alongside of this announcement that it does not plan to introduce any 8x8 MIMO chipsets into battery powered devices or USB Wi-Fi adapters. The company plans on the chipset being used in enterprise environments and consumer networking.

The Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, has announced that it has freed some wireless spectrum in the 5GHz band in order to provide accelerated growth and expansion of Wi-Fi technology. In total, 100MHz of spectrum has been freed, which will allow for wireless networks to become even faster than what they are today. Outdoor and public Wi-Fi are targeted with this announcement, and the wireless networks could see speeds of up to one gigabit per second due to the increased spectrum availability. With the additional 100MHz of the 5GHz band now available to unlicensed wireless networks, 802.11ac networks will likely see major benefits due to how the wireless technology standard delivers data.

A new coalition has been formed that is geared towards improving Wi-Fi, for both businesses and consumers. Known as WifiForward, the group seeks to alleviate the issues that face Wi-Fi in terms of the spectrums it currently uses. Wi-Fi generally suffers from a bottleneck due to spectrum frequencies that are overused. The group plans to gain support from the United State government in order to establish unlicensed rules that encourage development, strengthen current unlicensed spectrums, and make new spectrum available for unlicensed use at a variety of frequencies.

TRENDnet, founded in Torrance, California, has launched its new HomePlug AV2 Powerline adapter. The TRENDnet Powerline 500 AV2 adapter includes a high performance Gigabit port, auto-connect technology, a power save move that reduces electrical consumption by 80 percent, and double the performance compared to the first generation Powerline 500 adapters. TPL-408E, which is the specific model number for the the new TRENDnet Powerline 500 AV2 adapter, is also pre-encrypted for security purposes.

The TRENDnet HomePlug AV2 Powerline adapter includes a three year limited warranty and is available for immediate purchase. A single TPL-408E costs $59.99 MSRP, and a twin pack costs $104.99 MSRP.

Discovered by a security researcher named Eloi Vanderbeken, some Cisco routers currently contain a backdoor system that is able to be exploited by attackers. Cisco is promising to release a firmware patch shortly that will remedy the issue, even though Belkin is now responsible for Linksys routers. The vulnerability allows attackers to gain administrative access without any form of authenticating, by simply resetting the administrative password. The devices that contain the issue contain a service that listens on port 32764 TCP. Cisco identified its RVS4000, WRVS4400N, and WAP4410N router models that contain the vulnerability. While the first two are only able to be compromised by using a testing interface on the LAN that the devices are connected to, the WAP4410N can be exploited wirelessly as well.

Cisco has notified users that besides the firmware patch that it plans to release shortly, there is no known workaround for the vulnerability.

One of the leaders in wired and wireless networking hardware, TRENDnet has announced from CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, the introduction of their new high gain Wireless AC USB adapter. The new adapter, model TEW-806UBH, offers the ability to connect a Windows or Macintosh computer to a Wireless AC network at speed of 433Mbps or to a Wireless N network at speeds of 150Mbps. The adapter is able to be adjusted, in terms of both rotation and tilt, in order to improve wireless connectivity. Sonny Su, the technology director of TRENDnet, stated that the new TRENDnet TEW-806UBH Wireless AC USB adapter maximizes the wireless coverage of a computer while utilizing an existing Wireless AC network.

The TRENDnet TEW-806UBH will be available for $39.99 MSRP in March of this year, and feature a three year limited warranty.

Announced today from CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, new cloud cameras that feature IEEE 802.11ac connectivity are being launched from TRENDnet. Technology director of TRENDnet, Sonny Su, states that the introduction of the cloud cameras provides consumers more options when building their network and marks a milestone in the transition to making IEEE 802.11ac the standard for wireless monitoring solutions. Two models are being released by TRENDnet, labeled TV-IP782IC and TV-IP882IC, and will cost $149.99 MSPR and $249.99 MSRP, respectfully.

Both cameras feature Wireless AC networking, remote camera viewing with free TRENDnet Cloud service, high-definition 720P resolution, two way audio, free mobile applications, and a three year warranty. The TV-IP782IC camera more specifically features the ability to receive snapshots and video clips of motion through email and has night vision capability of up to 16 feet. The TV-IP882IC camera features the ability to receive motion detection video clips through email and has night vision capability of up to 25 feet. Although the new cameras will work with the Wireless AC standard, they are incompatible with other standards such as Wireless N.

Both TRENDnet Wireless AC cloud cameras will be available directly from TRENDnet as well as other retailers in June of this year.

TP-LINK has released the new TL-SG1008PE. It is a new desktop/rack mountable 8-port gigabit switch with all eight ports supporting the PoE+ standard. The new switch makes it easier to expand a wired network, since it delivers both power and data via a single ethernet cable. So whether you need to share your small business' files with all the computers in the building, hooking up all your surveillanve cameras to your home server or you want to set up a quick and easy LAN, when your friends come over for a gaming session, then the TL-SG1008PE might be something for you. The switch's power limit is 124 W, and if the devices connected to the switch exceeds the power limit, the switch will automatically cut off power to the lowest priority port until the power usage is unde the limit again. Furthermore, the switch is said to be very energy effecient with power savings up to 75 percent, though it is not known what that number is based on.

The TL-SG1008PE has an MSRP of $199.99 and is available at retail and online stores.

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed a way to transfer data using rapidly blinking LED lights. The data allows information to be transmitted at speeds of up to 1GBPS, with the possibility of speeds of up to 3GBPS through use of three different colors. The technology could soon be integrated into conference rooms, trade booths and hospitals, but has many more possible applications. Additionally, the technology can easily be built into conventional lighting with relatively little modification.

The technology is not without flaws, however. Use of LEDs for extended periods of time on battery-powered devices can significantly reduce battery life, and bright light can also disrupt the transfer of data. As well as this, the technology has a very limited range. In ideal conditions, data transfer rate can drop to 100MBPS at 20m, and is affected by any objects in between the transmitter and receiver.

According to telecommunications company ZTE, 4G LTE data connections will be available for use on flights from later this year. ZTE conducted a test on a Hainan Airlines Flight which showed that 4G connectivity was available for a large portion of the two hour flight, with download speeds of more than 12 Mbps. The technology uses a 4G LTE data connection between the aircraft and the ground, which can then be used by passengers over a Wi-Fi connection.

ZTE expects to apply this technology to all Chinese airlines by the end of this year, and will continue to expand after this. ZTE, however, is not alone in developing this technology, with Airbus, Alcatel and a number of other companies also working on developing these high-speed data connections. The technology is likely to be adopted fairly quickly, especially considering 4G connectivity is now available in more than 67 countries, according to the Global Mobile Supplies Association, so we may begin to see in-flight high-speed internet connections become a reality in the near future.

After months of construction on a new consumer network service, Google announced today the launching of its Gigabit Internet service to homes in Kansas City this week. Google Fiber is offering three plans: Gigabit Internet plus streaming for $120 per month, Gigabit Internet only for $70 per month and a Free Internet access service The only drawback of the Free Internet access service is you are required to pick up the tab on a $300 installation fee either in a one time payment or divided up in monthly installments. The two higher tier services have the installation fee already included. The company had the following to say:

At up to 1000 Mb per second, Google Fiber is 100 times faster than today's average Internet, allowing you to get what you want instantaneously. You no longer have to wait on things buffering; everything will be ready to go when you are.

Currently, Google has no plans of expanding outside Kansas City, so don't expect to see Google Gigabit Internet service anywhere else soon.

ECS will be displaying its entire lineup of Intel and AMD platform motherboards at CES this year. As part of the show, ECS will be introducing tow top-end boards based on the Intel X79 chipset supporting LGA2011 Sandy Bridge-E processors — X79R-AX Black Extreme and X79R-AX Black Deluxe. Along with the motherboards, ECS plans to have its lineup of graphics cards on display as well.

ECS has announced its Wi-Bridge wireless display solution designed for HDMI display devices. The Wi-Bridge is a wireless display adapter in a small and portable package designed to bridge PC or notebook to your big screen display device supporting 1080P high-definition resolution via HDMI. The ECS Wi-Bridge supports all the various video/audio/photo formats. In the office, the Wi-Bridge is ideal for switching between multiple presenters. The ECS Wi-Bridge is effective up to a range of 30 meters and can be used with the bundled remote control. ECS has yet to announce pricing and availability.

Most motherboards you can buy today have a gigabit Ethernet port on it for transferring data on a network; and some even have two for even greater bandwidth. As nice as that combined 2 Gbps rate is, how about a combined rate of 186 Gbps? That’s fast enough to move 2 petabytes (2 million GB) in a single day, and may in fact become too slow for its intended users before very long.

A team led by the California Institute of Technology successfully established a 98 Gbps connection in one direction, and a simultaneous 88 Gbps connection in the opposite direction. This combined 186 Gbps between leaders in the research field is intended to share the truly awesome amounts of data they each collect. The current global grid for sharing such information has already moved over 100 PB, and that number is expected to increase a thousand fold as the LHC at CERN increases its experiments.

German researchers have struck a new mark in the race for LED data transmission, using a multitude of white, blue, green, and red LEDs to surpass any speeds that laboratories have yet reached. Chinese researchers submitted this type of technology last year, using blue LEDs to transfer data by flickering them faster than the human eye can even perceive. Even earlier this year, a group of white LEDs was able to transfer data at 500Mbps, though the German researchers have obviously struck a new mark in this technology, enabling HD capable streaming at 800Mbps. This obviously will not replace Ethernet cable or a traditional WiFi router in a home type setting, but it does give the wireless technology a run for its money since places like hospitals usually have interference with radio signals. There is no news of this technology being widely implemented in settings such as health care facilities, however as it continues to pick up speed, it seems inevitable that it will be coming to a small niche of enterprises and corporations in the coming decade.

The proposition from Microsoft to purchase Skype for $8.5 billion has been known for about a month so far. Although the plan was laid out for the acquisition, it took until today for the OK from the US Federal Trade Commission. If this absorption of Skype is completed, it could open many new opportunities for connecting devices and enabling new avenues of communication. The agreement mentions Xbox and Kinect support along with Windows Phone integration. Through this purchase, Skype would become a permanent part of the Microsoft organization and would have a good chance to be further integrated into future software and hardware. Admittedly, Skype may not be the most profitable company through the current model, losing $7 million in 2010, but perhaps Microsoft envisions a way to change this.

Ryan Guerra, a grad student at Rice University, has been trying to figure out how to extend the range of a WiFi signal to over a mile. Thanks to empty TV channels and some fancy engineering, Ryan has successfully extended the range of a WiFi signal belonging to a resident of Houston. This resident lives just on the outskirts of a free WiFi network, and since traditional WiFi signals use the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies the signal will not easily pass through the trees surrounding the resident's home. Ryan has figured out how to take the traditional WiFi signal and convert it into an empty TV channel. He calls this project "Super WiFi". Ryan starts off by using a typical 2.4Ghz WiFi card running on a Linux system and has the card's output sent through a frequency translator. The translator then shifts the 2.4GHz signal down to 563MHz which is sent to a small TV antenna on the resident's home. The signal is transmitted and eventually patched into the free WiFi connection using a local transmission tower. The reason behind the use of the empty TV channel is it uses a 563MHz signal, and that signal can easily be sent though the trees and walls surrounding the neighborhood.

The transmitter Ryan has created transmits in a 60 degree directional beam allowing anyone in its path to receive the WiFi signal. Since the transmitter is directional it also allows for a smaller more discreet TV antenna to be used on the resident's home. While the results so far have been excellent, Ryan does foresee problems in the future with existing WiFi protocols and his Super WiFi project. Fear not though, Ryan and companies like Microsoft are researching new protocols for empty TV channel use.